An investigation was opened by the Lyon prosecutor’s office following the discomfort of several caregivers, clearly victims of drug intoxication in a hospital in the 8th arrondissement of the city, local media Le Progrès reported on Wednesday evening.
The Rhône departmental security is in charge of the preliminary investigation opened against X to the head of “administration of harmful substances”, specifies the newspaper.
It all started on the night of July 31 to August 1, when a caregiver suddenly felt bad after drinking bottled water, reports Le Progrès. Intrigued by the appearance of the water she had just swallowed, she decided to have its contents analyzed, with a clear result: the liquid contained tranquilizing drugs.
Two more cases in the following weeks
A few weeks later, a similar incident occurred in the private establishment. This time, a caregiver was found unconscious and taken to the emergency room. The next day, a nurse was found in the same condition. Both were also poisoned by drugs, the local newspaper said.
These suspected poisonings did not have any detrimental consequences for the victims, however assured the management of the hospital, who informed his team of the first confirmed cases.
While waiting for the first elements of the investigation, the hospital has reinforced its safety protocol by storing water bottles and meal trays in a monitored room, and by handing them over to patients individually upon signing.